Ravens LB Ray Lewis Silent On Banned Substance Queries

January 29, 2013|The Sports Xchange, The Hartford Courant

NEW ORLEANS — — Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis paused only briefly to address a Sports Illustrated report that he used a deer antler spray containing the banned substance IGF-1 to aid in his recovery from a torn triceps during the regular season.

"Two years ago that was the same report," Lewis said at Media Day on Tuesday. "I wouldn't give that report or him any of my press (time). He's not worthy of that.

"Next question."

The SI story written by David Epstein and George Dorhrmann will appear in the Feb. 4 issue of the magazine, but was posted online Tuesday.

It claims Lewis contacted Mitch Ross, owner of S.W.A.T.S., a two-man sports science company, seeking help in recovering from his triceps injury suffered Oct. 14. Ross reportedly taped the call, and then laid out a comprehensive treatment plan that included holographic stickers on the right elbow, a daily regimen of the deer-antler pills to "rebuild your brain via your small intestines" and spritzes of the deer-antler velvet extract.

The spray goes under the tongue. IGF-1 is a natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth, and is also banned by the NFL and other major pro sports leagues.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he was aware of the report, but pointed out that Lewis has never failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

"Ray has passed every substance test in his career," Harbaugh said.

The treatment reportedly outlined by Ross also included "copious quantities" of the powder additive, sleeping in front of a beam-ray light to help tissue regeneration and pain report and drinking negatively charged water.

Lewis was also asked about the Atlanta incident 13 years ago that resulted in the death of Richard Lollar. Lewis pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of obstruction of justice.

"Nobody here is qualified to talk about that at this time," Lewis said Tuesday. "I live with that every day of my life. You don't … I'd rather not talk about that today.

What Lewis wanted to talk about was teammates and legacies, football and the celebration of being back on the game's biggest stage.

"When you talk about leaving a legacy, it's what your peers say about you," Lewis said.

While peers on both teams in the Superdome on Tuesday answered endless questions about Lewis' final NFL game on Sunday, his place in the league's history and among the all-time greats, the national media's insatiable appetite to break out of the doldrums of retread quotes during Super Bowl week promises to have Lewis providing more curt responses leading up to game day.